JEFF COHEN
Bio
Jeff Cohen, pianist and composer, has collaborated and performed with singers and instrumentalists, including Roberto Alagna, June Anderson, Cecilia Bartoli, Jane Birkin, Measha Brueggergosman, Dale Duesing, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Angela Gheorghiu, Véronique Gens, Ivry Gitlis, Ida Haendel, Sumi Jo, Steve Lacy, Noël Lee, Ute Lemper, François Le Roux, Dame Felicity Lott, and Mady Mesplé.
Mr. Cohen's numerous recordings include a recital "Live at La Scala with Angela Gheorghiu"; various compilations of French mélodies with François Le Roux; Kurt Weill and cabaret songs with Ute Lemper; and two-piano works with Noel Lee. He has assisted conductors such as Sir George Solti, Christopher Hogwood, John Nelson and Michel Plasson on recordings with Decca and EMI. Cohen appeared as pianist in Peter Brook’s production Impressions de Pelléas as well as Roman Polanski’s staging of the play Masterclass in Paris. He conducted Giorgio Strehler’s production of Der Dreigroschenoper at the Châtelet Theater in Paris and was assistant to Myung-Whung Chung on Verdi’s Otello during the opening season of the Paris Bastille Opera.
For several years, French television aired Jeff d’orchestre, an original television series for children about music, written by and starring Jeff Cohen. He has also composed original music for feature films, plays, and dance pieces.
After studying at The Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore) with Lillian Freundlich, Mr. Cohen's interest in French music, particularly mélodie, took him to Paris, where he studied at the Conservatoire National with Reine Gianoli and Geneviève Joy. He later continued studies with Leon Fleisher and Peter Feuchtwanger (London).
In 2013, Jeff Cohen was awarded the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of The Walden School, a summer music camp for young musicians focused on composition and creative training. Cohen lives in Paris, where he is currently professor of mélodie and Lied at the Conservatoire National.
Mr. Cohen's numerous recordings include a recital "Live at La Scala with Angela Gheorghiu"; various compilations of French mélodies with François Le Roux; Kurt Weill and cabaret songs with Ute Lemper; and two-piano works with Noel Lee. He has assisted conductors such as Sir George Solti, Christopher Hogwood, John Nelson and Michel Plasson on recordings with Decca and EMI. Cohen appeared as pianist in Peter Brook’s production Impressions de Pelléas as well as Roman Polanski’s staging of the play Masterclass in Paris. He conducted Giorgio Strehler’s production of Der Dreigroschenoper at the Châtelet Theater in Paris and was assistant to Myung-Whung Chung on Verdi’s Otello during the opening season of the Paris Bastille Opera.
For several years, French television aired Jeff d’orchestre, an original television series for children about music, written by and starring Jeff Cohen. He has also composed original music for feature films, plays, and dance pieces.
After studying at The Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore) with Lillian Freundlich, Mr. Cohen's interest in French music, particularly mélodie, took him to Paris, where he studied at the Conservatoire National with Reine Gianoli and Geneviève Joy. He later continued studies with Leon Fleisher and Peter Feuchtwanger (London).
In 2013, Jeff Cohen was awarded the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of The Walden School, a summer music camp for young musicians focused on composition and creative training. Cohen lives in Paris, where he is currently professor of mélodie and Lied at the Conservatoire National.